Flexible couplings for beaded tubing



Feb 12, 1957 J. l. DETWEILER ETAL FLEXIBLE coUBLINGs FOR BEADED TUBING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. l2, 1955 u INVENTolgs JAMES l. DETwElLER DOUGLAS @THOMPSON lli, Wifi rea. 12, 1957 J. a. DETWEILER ETAL 2,781,207

FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS FOR BEADED TUBING Filed Jan. l2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A gli INVENTORS JAMES l. DETwElLl-:R 7"-' .z E. :E DoueLAs G THoMPsoN By g v Aden? United States Patent FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS FR BEADED TUBING James L Detweiler, Burbank, and Douglas G. Thompson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Lockheed Aircratt Corporation, Burbank, Calif.

Application January 12, 1953, Serial No. 330,842

3 Claims. (Cl. 285-233) This invention relates to couplings and relates more particularly to couplings for connecting tubes, pipes, and the like, for handling duid under pressure.

The present invention relates to the general types of couplings disclosed in our earlier application, Serial Number 247,858 led September 22, 1951, now abandoned, which are designed to ilexibly connect the ends of pipes and tubes of the class provided adjacent their ends with external beads for engagement by the couplings. In such couplings it is necessary to maintain effective lluid pressure tight seals and yet permit relative angular or pivotal movement between the connected -tubes while positively holding the tubes against separation. Prior to our earlier invention dilliculty was encountered in providing and maintaining eiective iluid tight seals in such couplings, particularly those of large diameter for use with tubes carrying lluid at substantial pressures. ln the prior couplings in general use the seals consisted of rings of rubber or synthetic rubber arranged so as to be compressed against the beads of the tubes or against other surfaces by the axial or endwise loads developed by the internal fluid pressures within the tube system itself and in some of the earlier couplings threaded glands or nuts Were used to compress the seal rings. Where the iluid pressure is high and/or when the tubes are of large diameter, the heavy end loads tending to separate the adjacent tube ends were transmitted directly through or to the seal rings of these prior couplings and soon distorted and extruded the rings to such an extent that they no longer prevented the leakage of uid. The tightening down of threaded nuts or followers to actuate or compress the seal rings also distorted and extruded the seal rings.

In our earlier invention, above referred to, these shortcomings of the prior couplings were overcome and avoided by coupling constructions wherein the axial or endwise forces developed by the uid pressure in the tubing system were directly transmitted from one tube to the-other by metal collars cooperating with the beads of the tubes,

thus relieving the seal-rings of all such loads and forces. Further, simple rings were employed which require no actuation, compression or distortion by threaded glands, or the like. A typical coupling of our earlier invention included a collar, such as just mentioned, cooperating with the beads of the adjacent tube ends, a body engaged 2,781,207 Patented :142,

It is therefore an object of the present invention to pro-` vide exible tube couplings of the kind described wherein the seal rings are not subjected to the heavy end loads developed by the fluid pressures and, therefore, are not excessively distorted or extruded, which couplings are characterized by a novel arrangement and relationship between the bead engaging collars and the surrounding body whereby the heavy end loads are assumed by these metal or rigid material elements and whereby the seal rings are positioned between the beads and the adjacent ends of the rela-ted tubes to seal with the tube surfaces and the internal surface of the body. This characteristic arrangement in addition to relieving the seal rings vof the heavy end loads and, permitting theA use of simple 0 ring seals has other advantages.' For example it readily adapts'the coupling for use on tubes where the beads are'in non-standard positions, rmaking the couplings more universally adaptable.

A nother object of the inveniton is to provide a coupling of the character mentioned wherein the retainers or collars for co-operating with the beads of the tubing also engage with parts on the coupling body, one retainer engaging an internal flange on the body, the other engaging an adjustable gland nut on the body for positively transmitting the end 'loads to the coupling body. The adjustability of the nut permits packing take-up so that the 0 ring seals are properly conned for elective operation, it being understood that this type of seal does not require axial compression by mechanical means such as a thread-A ed nut, but is actuated by the uid pressure itself acting axially on the rings. l

Another object of the invention is to provide couplings of this kind wherein the collars or retainers not only cooperate with the beads of the tubes and the llanges and nuts of the surrounding body but also provide abutments for lthe seal rings. In some embodiments of the invention the retaining collars have integral internal flanges providing conning or retaining abutments for the 0 rings while in other cases washers are arranged at the ends of the collars for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide flexible couplings .of the class described wherein the retainers or around the collar to retain and support the same, and the seal rings positioned beyond the ends of the collar and sealing between the external surfaces of the tubes and the internal surface of the body. In the present invention there are separate collars cooperating with the beads of the two adjacent tubes, these collars cooperating with the surrounding body for the assumption and transmission of the axial or end loads and the seal rings are positioned between the collars and the ends of their related tubes to seal between the surfaces of the tubes and the internal wall of the body. This construction retains the desirable attributes and features of our earlier invention and at the same time is adaptable for use in situations where the tube beads have non-standard positions.

collars are engageable with regular spun or formed beads on the tubes, are engageable with machined beads or anges on the tubes, or with similar beads on bosses or ttings on mechanisms and elements such as pumps, tanks,

and the like. v

-A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling of this nature characterized by an internal sealing cartridge incorporating seal rings for sealing with the two tubes and a collar confining the rings provided with a take-up nut for adjusting the seal rings, which cartridge is adapted to be held within an incircling clamp, clam-4 shell structure, or the like, to facilitate Vassembly on the tubes. The cartridge is readily arranged on. the tubes between their respective beads by engaging it on one end portion of one tube and then slipping the end portion of the other tube into it and the encircling clamp is then arranged around the cartridge and tightened down to receive and conne the same, the clam-shell or clamp being engageable by the beads of the tubing to assume the axial separating forces or loads.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a continuous or non-split collar or retainer having ball detent means for cooperating with the tubing beads after its arrangement on the ends of the tubes and adapted to be confined within the coupling body which holds its ball detents in cooperation with the lbeads to assume the end loads. This ball detent structure is advantageous in couplings for relatively small tube sizes and for high-pres- I sure applications.

Other objectives and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of typical preferred formsand applications, throughout which description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings whereinzrY Figure l is a side elevation ot one form of coupling of the invention with the upper portion ofthe assembly broken away to appear in vertical cross section and with a part of one of the tubes broken' away toiiillus' trate the split'in one of the retainers; e Figure 2 is a side .elevation of another coupling of the invention with' a portion appearing in longitudinal or vertical c ross section; j

Figure 3 is a View similar to FigurerZ illustrating lanotheform of coupling of the inventiom" Figurejlt is a coupling means ofthe'nvention'ssociated "with aV femaleV boss and" thej'end'po'tiori Lof* a mbe.; i .v n Figure 5 is aV perspectiver view 'of a retainer or collar suehe'sjused in tnej'eouplings'jo r'Figures 1, 2 and 4; "Figure SASanenl'arged 'fragmentary sectional View of 'a's'nap hinge Ypardonner a sectional hinged type of retainer. er reellen e 'Figure '5B 4is au enlarged perspective View of the sec,- tienarhingeu retainer;

Figure 6,' is a viewfsirnilr to Figures 2 and 3 illustratirig'ajcoupling of the invention incorporating a clampV Figure T'S as indicated byline 7 7 onFigure e; and Y Fie'ur'ef is a' view vsimilar to Figure 2illustrating a 'jouplihg Vof thefinvention incorporating ball detent means.' u Y Y a fragmentary end'view taken substantiallyVV diameter except at the region of attachment of the nut 13 to be later described. Irl/this connection it"is'to t to slidably Yengage in` an end of the body andthe y outer side or end of thergland is engaged by the inner surface of the nut flange 29. The ange and gland 14 surround the related tube 1G with considerable clearance to pass over the bead 11 and to allow for free angular relativemovement of thertubes, The gland nests 14 'in' an annular recess 21 in the flange 20, this nesting engagement and the engagementof the gland in the. body 12 serving to centralize and strengthen the gland nut and body assembly.

The collars or retainers 15 cooperate with thegtubing beads Y11, there being a retainer 15' for each bead: ln.A

The eennlinss ef this` inventien ere adapted fe be` employed to connect the adjacent ends oftubesV pro-,v

each provided with an integral external bead l11. The

tubes 1 0 havetheir ends inspaced adjacent and opposing relation andthefbeads 11 are spaced shortdistances from these ends. In thisl connection it is to be understood that the bends, 111 mayer mayv nntbespaced the. standard 0r nenn-l distance from the'ends of their respective tubes 19,V

it being a `feature of the invention that theV Couplings may be designed or adapted for use on tubes having beads ofv standard and non-standard.'coniguration and construction Ypc'isitioned at various distances` from the ends of the tubes. are ofv standard or conventional congu'ration and stare. spun, .pressed for rolled 1in the tubes, it being apparent that they maybe formed or provided in other ways;V

either as integra-l or non-integral parts of the tubes, and'whenv non-integral mechanically secured or 'attached to the tubes. The coupling of the invention illustrated in Figurel may be said to comprise, generally, 'a coupling body 1-2 having a threaded nut 13 and a follower 14, retainersV orV vcol-lars. 15 in the body V12 cooperating with'. the beads 1101 the tubes 10, and seal means 16 Yirl thebody 12 between the collars for Ysealing with the the tlange l17... and, `iu fact, may beef, uniform` external The .particular beads 11 illustrated The Vbody 12 may be of uniform internal diameter exc'eptrfor Y' accordance with the Vinvention the retainers 15 serve to;A transmit the axial or end loads developedmby` the; fluid pressure in the tube system from thetubes ltito thebodyd 12,` and are therefore constructed of metal or other rigid material of highor relatively high strength. heretainers 15 are annular or ring-like andare U shaped or cliatilvlclrV t shaped in transverse cross section, having internal an;v Y nular anges 22 at their opposite ends. lAs shown in the drawings the collars or retainers 15 straddle or receive their respective tube beads 11. The` retainers 15 are rer-. Ceivedin die bedr i2 tn'iinve iheir peripheral stiffnessengage the internal surface of the body andthl' auges, 22. entend radially inward at the opposite sides ofv their related beads 11 as clearly shown in Figure l.` lIn order torfacilitate kassembly the retainers or collars 15 are` split, longitudinally at 23 and are sufficiently ilegible and reg silientto be readily sprung over the beads to have their flanges 2,2v straddle the beads. The inner periphe-riesrorY edges of the llanges 22 have suitableclearance nwith the tubes 1l)V so as not to interfere withYV the Vileuribility of Athe j eeniiiins but dieiinnses and bends nre krelated se este have...

' force iransniittns elements fer transmitting theninnllnade,

nndfnies generated by the iinid pressure. in the. tnbina systemfrnniidle tubes wie the bedr l2.. the bed-y `1.2.in

tnrnnctinsns, n mechanical Coupling fertile tubes-,- 1nV coupl ings of small and relatively small sizes Where theVV retainers 1 5 have limited flexibility the retainers, instead r oflbeing4 split atonly one side, may be made in two or more partially circular sections. Y The seal means 16 is arrangedV between the tv vorretaine'rsor collars 1 5 and includes two sealrrings Zland az Vspace/L25 between the seal rings.V The seal rings,Y Zitate preferblyp Ythe Orring type, beingrringsY of round cross section formed of rubber, rubbercornposition, synthetic l rnbbenor'ohcr appropriate sealingmaterial. Tlieqspacern 25d-nay be `a simple annular part of squareor rectangular crosssection arraugedrin the body 12 to occupy the Same j plane as' the space or gap betweenrthe ends of the two'A tubes lllandthe spacer is of suffcienft length to overlap orf surroundL the extremities of they tubes lwith .suitable clearance#Y The Cv rings 2d are positioned between the endsof the .spacer 25' andthe inner ends of the ,retainers I 15;.so that 4theretainers..and spacer serve vto confine the' sealjringeand retain them in their operativepro'sitio ternal surfaces of the tubes and the internal surfaceV of the body 12,'being proportioned to initially have interference or engagement with these surfaces. As is well known, it is usually unnecessary to mechanically compress 0 rings seals axially and the iluid pressure from the tubes 10 admitted through the space between the ends of the tubes and past the spacer 25 acts outwardly against the seal rings 24 to actuate the same, that is to compress the seal rings in the axial direction against the retainers 15. This compression of the seal rings 24 forces and maintains them in pressure tight leak-proof cooperation with the surfaces of the tubes 10 and the internal surface of the body 12. It is to be particularly noted that any axial forces tending to separate the two tubes 10 developed by the duid pressure in the line or otherwise are not trans-l mitted through the seal rings 24 and cannot cause excessive compression, distortion or extrusion of the seal rings. All such loads and forces are transmitted from the beads 11 to the retainers 15 and thence to the body 12, the body acting as a force assuming coupling element. The nut 13 may be actuated or adjusted to position and confine the seal rings 24 for the most eflicient operation.

Figure 2 illustrates another coupling of the invention similar to the coupling of Figure 1 but incorporating several distinctive features. In this coupling the follower or gland 14 is omitted and the nut 13 directly engages a collar or retainer 150 which may have its outer corner nest in the annular depression 21 of the nut. The retainer 159 is an annular part tting within the body 12 and having only one end flange 220 extending radially nward toward the tube 10. This flange 220 has some clearance with the tube 1i) but is engageable by the bead 11 of the tube to receive outward axial forces or loads. The ange 22@ in turn bears against theange or lip 20 of the nut 13 to transmit these loads to the body unit. The retainer 151!l is split axially at 230 so as to be readily sprung over the related tubing bead 11. A continuous or unsplit washer is arranged at the inner end of the retainer 150. The washer 30 being unsplit and continuous presents an uninterrupted surface for engagement by the adjacent seal ring 24, thus avoiding any possibility of cutting or abrading of the seal ring. it is to be noted that the continuous unsplit washer 39 is employed instead of the second or inner retainer ange such as used in the coupling of Figure l. The Washer 30 tits in the body 12 and its inner edge or periphery has suitable clearance with the surface of the adjacent tube 16.

The coupling ot' Figure 2 includes a second collar or retainer 151 tting within the body 12 and having only one inwardly projecting annular lip or ilange 152. This ange 152 is at the inner end of the retainer 151 and cooperates with or forms the abutment for the related seal ring 24. The inner periphery or edge of the ange 152 has suitable clearance with the adajcent tube 10. In accordance with the invention the retainer 151 and its ange 152 are continuous, unbroken or unsplit, the retainer being such that it may be slid over the end portion of the related tube 19 without interference with its bead 11. Thus the retainer 151 presents an unbroken or uninterrupted ange 152 for cooperation with its related seal ring 24 to avoid any possibility of cutting or abrading of the seal ring. 1t is to be noted that in the coupling of Figure 2 the seal rings 24 both bear against unsplit continuous, interrupted abutments. A washer 153 is arranged at the outer end of the retainer 151 to cooperate with the body flange 1'7. The washer 153, which is split, has clearance with the periphery of the related tube 10 but is engageable by the tube bead 11 for the transmission of axial forces or loads from the tube to the body 12. In the coupling of Figure 2 an annular continuous or unsplit spacer 256 is engaged in the body 12 between the two seal rings 24. This spacer 250 corresponds in function with the spacer 25 above described, being in the plane of the space or. gap between the opposing ends of the tubes 10 and surrounding the terminal portions 'of the tubes. Where the gland 14 is omitted and where the space or gap between the ends of the opposing tubes 10 is relatively wide, the spacer 250 may have considerableV length .as shown.

The function and operation olf the coupling shown in Figures l and 2 are substantially identical. The seal rings 24 are the only elements of the coupling having direct radial contact with the tubes 10, assuming the tubes to be axially aligned, and constitute fulcrums for allowing relative angular or pivotal movement of the tubes. This imparts the desired llexibility to lthe coupling. When under substantial internal uid pressure the retainers 15, 159 and the washer 153 are engaged by the beads 11 for the transmission of the resultant axial loads to the body 16 but this cooperation does not materially interfere with ilexure of the couplings. Furthermore, the couplings `are readily exed during installation of the line to accommodate minor misalignments and inaccuracies of the installation. As already described, the seal rings 24 are relieved of all axial or end loads tending to separate the tubes 10 and, therefore, are not distorted or extruded by such loads. The seal rings 24 are arranged and conned to be most effectively actuated by the iluid pressure being handled to maintain duid-tight seals between the tubes 10 and the body 12. The couplings are constructed so as to be readily -assembled around the end portions `of the tubes 10 -as will be understood by reference to the drawings.

The coupling of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 incorporates seal rings 324 of relatively small cross section and, if desired, having a cross sectional dimension less than the height of the tube beads 11, the coupling accommodating seal rings constructed of materials having little or no resiliency and elongation. 1n this coupling the body 12 yand nut 13 may be the same as above described Iand the coupling includes two retainers 315 and a floating spacer 325 of special configuration for accommodating the seal rings 324. The retainers 315 are provided at the beads 11 and are hat-shaped in cross section, each having main portion or web tting in the body 12 and two end anges 322 of L cross section surrounding the tubes 11 with clearance. The retainers 315 are split in the same manner as the retainers 15 to be readily sprung over the beads 11 to straddle the ysarne and to each have a ilange 322 at each side of its respective bead. One retainer 315 has a flange 322 bearing axially against and fitting within the body end ange 17 and the other retainer 315 has one of its ilanfges 322 bearing against and fitting within the nut ange 20. The spacer 325 is a rather long tubular element arranged in the body 12 between the two retainers 315. The spacer 325 surrounds the end'portions olf the tubes 1t) with clearance and its opposite ends have internal annular corner grooves 301 for containing the seal rings 324. The inner anges 322 of the retainers 315 may enter these grooves 301 to be engaged or sealed against by the seal rings.

The seal rings 324 contained in the grooves 301 are be rubber, rubber composition, synthetic rubber and like flexible resilient materials or may be sealing material hav- A ling little or no resiliency such as asbestos compositions, Teflon, and the like. The rings 324 seal with the eX- ternal surfaces of the tubes 10 and with the peripheral walls of the grooves 301, the end walls of the grooves and the ends of the l. anges 322 of the retainers 315 retai-ning or confining the seal rings. The coupling of Figure 3 is assembled in substantially the same way as the couplings of Figures l and 2 although in this case the seal rings 324 ol small cross section are easily Worked or sprung over the beads 11.

Figure 4 `of the drawings lillustrates the invention utilized to flexibly couple a tube 10 with a female tting or wall of the socket.

boss .40G/.which may 4be attached to or form apart otra pump, tank, cylinder and piston mechanism, or the like.

The boss`400. has Va luid opening or passage 401 provided atits outer endrwith'a counter bore'or socket 402. The

socket 402 is cylindrical and extends `to the outer end of the boss.` The Yboss 461? also has @an external thread 403 sc that the nut 13 of the coupling may be threaded thereon. The bore or passage 401, or yat least its outer portion, is adapted to receive the end ofl the Vtube 10 with clearance Vand the socket 402 receives the bead 11 with considerable *prior to entering the tube 10 into the bore 401, to straddle or engage around the bead. rThe retainer 15 is adapted to tit 1n the socket 402 and a follower or gland 414, similar to the gland 14, is provided to engage the outer end of the retainer. the ange of the nut 13. The ange 20 and the gland 414- are proportioned to be passed over the tubing bead 1-1. `The seal ring 24 is positioned or retained Ibetween the -innerange 22 of the retainer Y15 and the end Weill of the socket 402 and its end clearance or engagement, as the ce may be, is readily regulated or adjusted by turning or actuating the threaded nut 13. The retainer 15v cooperating with the bead 11 and engaged byV the follower 41,4 assumes theV outward end loads or axial forces tending to ,separate the tube 11 from the'boss 400 and yet does not interfere with the desired flexibility of the coupiling. Further, it is to be noted that the seal ring 24 is not ccunpressedl or distortedby such end 'loads or lforces, beingentirely independent'of them.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a collar or retainer suitable fo'r use in couplings of smalti diameter and in other situations where sectional readily assembled retainers are desired. This retainer includes two substantially semicircular sections 45 adapted to be assembled over or arounda tubing bead 11; The sections V45 have anges 42 'corresponding tothe ilange's 22 land are proportioned to readily straddde the beads 11 to have the anges en- `gage therewith. sections 45 are preferably hingedly connected to be readily swung together over the tubing bead 11. Y Any suitable The gland 414 is actuated yor engaged byy In accordance with the invention theV form of'hinge connection may be used. In the construction illustrated the two sections are identical, each being notched at each end to have two spaced tongues 46 Y at one end and two spaced tongues 47 atV the other end. The'parts are related so that the tongues 46 of one section 45 are adapted to engage within orbetween the tonguesv 47 of the other section. The tongues 47 have internal or inwardly facing depressions or recesses 48 while lthe tongues 46 are provided with outwardly pro-Y Y other section mayrthen be arranged over the bead and the two sections manipulated so that the projections 4&3 snap into therecesses 48. However, it will usually be preferred to first hingedly connect the two sections 45 by snappingthe projections 49nd one section into the re- V cersses 4S .of the other section to 'form la read-ilyhaudled hinged together unit such as illustrated in Figure 5B. This assembly or unit is then arranged over the tube 10 at its ures 5A and 5B may be employed in the various cou!- plings of the invention. e

Figures 6 and 7Jillustrate a coupling of the'inventiouA characterized by a seal ring cartridge adaptedY to be held in a V clame-shell type clamp,` or the like, toi' assuming the axial loads. We' have shown this coupling used with a tube 10 having a bead 11, such as. above described, and a second tube 510 having a machined bead 511. The

abovementioned cartridge' includes a tubular shell or re-' tainer 501 having an internal llange 502 at one end. The

retainer 531 is adaptedv to. surround the end portions of the tubes 10- and V510 with clearance and serves to contain the twospajced seal rings 524. The rings 524 may be substantially the same as the seal rings 24 and a 'spacer 525 is arranged between them. A gland nut 513 is threaded in the end of the retainer 501'most remote from the ilange 50.2. One seal ring 524 Yis betweenthe ange 502 and one end of the spacer 525 while the otherV e ring 524 is between the end of the nut 513 and the other e end of the spacer. With this arrangement the nut 513 may be used to adjust or take up the packing assembly.

The seal rings 524 seal between the external surfaces of the tubes 10 and 510 and the internal surface of the retainer 501 inl annular regions or zones spaced from the opposing ends of the tubes.

In accordance with the invention any required or appropriate type of clamp or encircling means may be employed to retain the sleeve 501 and to cooperate with the tubing beads 11 and 511 for the assumption of the axialV or end loads. In the drawings we have shown a simple clamp for this purpose including a split flexible clamp body 504 of channel shaped c ross section for encircling and conforming to the retainer 501. The clamp body 504Y has end danges 505 which project inwardly to adrating end forces from one tube to the other and the seal rings 524 are not subjected to any such forces. Straps or loops 505 and4 S07 Vare secured to the clamp body 504 at each Side kof each split 508. A T bolt 509 is engaged in one loop 5de and passes through a sleeve 512 in the loop 507. A nut 515 on the bolt 509l is tightened against the sleeve to contract or tighten the clamp body 504 on the retainer'501 and to hold the clamp where its e v anges 505 are in position Vto be engaged by the tube beads 11v and 511 to prevent separation of the tubes and to transmit theA end loads between the tubes.

FigureV 8 illustrates a coupling of the invention having a coupling body 600 provided at one end with an` in-Y wardly projecting ange'dl adapted to vbe passed over the tubing beads 11. A nut 602 is threadedon the other ,8nd of the `body 600 and has a lip 603 which enters the body and which is also yadapted to pass over the tubj ing beads 11. Suitable washers 604 are arranged against` the inner faces ofVV the ilange 661 and lip 603.V Seal rings 624V are provided in the body 600 at the inner sides of the washers 604 to seal with the surfaces of the tubes 10 and the internal surface of the body. The seal rings 624 are preferably of flexible resilient material such as rubber, rubber-,composition or synthetic rubber so as to be readily sprung over the beads 11.

The coupling of FigurerS is characterized by a retainer A 607 having. ball detcnt means cooperable with the beads bead 11A-and is closed about the bead to snap the Vother projections 49 into the other recesses 4S` and thus form an annular retainer aroundthe bead. lt isv believed that it will be understood how thefcollar or retainer of Fig- 11 for the transmission of end loads between the tubes. The vretainer 6?? is a simple tubular part adapted to be slidintothe body 630 andadaptcd to readily pass over the tubing beads 11. Two axially spaced rows of radial openings S areprovided in the wall of the tubularre-` tainer 607 to hold metal or rigid material balls 609'. The

diameter. of the balls. 669 is greater than the thickness of theretainerwalleso thatthe balls project either vfrom theY external'V orr internal @surfaces .of theY retainer; VThe balls,

lt should be noted that with this arrangee 609 are loosely staked in the openings 608, that is the openings are shaped to prevent displacement of the balls and yet allow free limited radial movement of the same.

In assembling the coupling of Figure 8 the body 600 is slid over a tube 10 to a position some distance from its end and its washer 604 and adjacent seal ring 624 are assembled therein. The retainer 607 with its balls 609 is slid over the tube 10, the balls being free to move outwardly as the retainer is passed over the bead 11. 'I'he nut 602 and adjacent washer 604 and seal ring 624i are slid on to the other tube. After the tubes 10 have been brought to the desired relative positions, the retainer 607 is moved to the position where it overlaps the opposing ends of the tubes. The coupling body 600, together with its washer 604 and seal ring 624., is moved along the tube assembly to slide or pass over the retainer 607, the body 600 serving to positively move the balls 609 inwardly to positions such as illustrated in Figure 8 where they are engageable with the beads 11 to assume the separating end forces on the tubes. The other seal ring 624 and its washer 604 are then moved into the end of the body 600 and the nut 602 is threaded on the body to complete l:he assembly. It should be noted that Figure 8 illustrates a coupling having a simple one-piece retainer 607 characterized by ball detents that may be readily passed over the beads 11 in assembling the coupling and that are positively held in their inward active positions by the body 600 where they cooperate with the beads 11 to assume the end forces on the tubes, thus relieving the seal rings 624 of all such forces.

Having described only typical forms of the invention we do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any van'- ations or modiiicationsV that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. A coupling for connecting two thin walled tubes for relative langular movement, the tubes having external annular beads in `spaced adjacent relation to their ends, the coupling including a tubular body arranged around the end portions of the tubes in spaced surrounding relation thereto yand protruding beyond the distal sides of the beads, the body having a iiange projecting radially inward from one end thereof and the body having a `cylindrical imperiorate internal Surface of substantially uniform diameter extending from said flange to the other end of the body, means having threaded engagement with the other end of the body, and projecting radially inward therefrom, said flange and said threaded engagement means having an inside diameter greater than the greatest outside diameter of said beads, split collars of channel shape cross lsection engaged over said beads to rstraddle the same 'and to surround said tubes, each collar having a cylindrical periphery engaging said internal surface of the body and having flanges projecting radially inward toward the tubes at each side of the respective bead, the distal ilange of one of the collars engaging said iange of -the body and -the distal ange of the `other collar engaging said means whereby the collars transmit from the beads to the body the axial forces tending to separate the tubes, said flange of the body, said means and said flanges of the collars being spaced radially from the peripheries of [the tubes to thereby permit relative 'angular movement between the tubes, and seal means in the body in the region between the two collars for sealing between the peripheries of the tubes and said internal surface of the body, said split collars and said threaded means being at the distal sides of the seal means where they do not constitute paths of fluid leak-age from the tubes.

2. A coupling for connecting two thin walled tubes for relative angular movement, the ytubes having external lannular beads in spaced adjacent relation to their ends, said beads being arcuate in cross section, the `coupling including a 'tubular body arranged around the end portions of the tubes in spaced surrounding relation thereto and protruding beyond the distal sides of the beads, the body having a flange projecting radiallyV inward from one end thereof and the body having a cylindrical imperforate internal surface of substantially uniform diameter extending from said ange to the other end of the body, means having threaded engagement with the other end of `the body ,nd projecting radially inward therefrom, said iiange land aid threaded engagement means having an inside diameter reater than the greatest outside diameter `of said beads,

pnt collars of channel shape cross section engaged over he beads `to straddle the same and to surround Ithe tubes, each collar having a cylindrical periphery engaging said internal surface of the body and having flanges projecting radially inward toward the tubes at each side of the respective beads, the inside diameter `of said flanges of `the collars being greater than the outside diameter `of said tubes and substantially less than the greatest outside diameter of said beads, said iiange of the body, said threaded means, and said flanges of 'the collars presenting tiat faces lying in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, the distal tlange of one collar having its flat face in engagement with the dat face yof said ange of the body the distal flange of the other collar yira ing its at face in engagement with the dat face of said means whereby the collars transmit from the beads Ito the body the axial Y forces tending to separate the tubes, and seal means in the body in the region between the two collars comprising seal rings bearing against the proximal flanges of the collars and sealing with said internal surface of lthe body and the peripheral surfaces of the tubes, and `a spacer in the body between the seal rings, said threaded engagement of said means with the body being at lthe distal side of the closest adjacent seal ring so as to not constitute a path of iiuid leakage from the tubes.

3. A claim as in 2 and wherein said `collars are circumferentially split.

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